PUC staff says no to CMP land buy

Maine Public Utilities Commission staff have recommended against Central Maine Power Co.'s request to negotiate a land deal on behalf of a sister company that develops wind farms.

The Bangor Daily News reported that CMP is seeking to arrange a land deal for Atlantic Wind, also an Iberdrola company, by negotiating and purchasing a right-of-way on land owned by Brookfield Hydro. The deal would allow construction of a line that would be used for Atlantic Wind's wind farm in Somerset County, now called West Range Wind.

In its recommendation, PUC staff said CMP's request to arrange the land deal for Atlantic Wind creates "the possibility that CMP would be seen as providing preferential treatment to its affiliated generator."

The Maine Office of the Public Advocate, on the other hand, has written in favor of the deal, saying that it "is not adverse to the public interest" and would not harm ratepayers.